What a fantastic celebration! From the parade of guests resplendent in their wedding finery to the happy throngs waving the Union Jack to the beaming bride and groom, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding was nothing short of perfect.

And The Dress? Absolutely gorgeous! It was just as I imagined it would be and the style suited Kate perfectly. Despite her denials, Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen was the designer and although the gown was not as flamboyant and fashion-forward as McQueen’s dresses tend to be, it suited the bride and the occasion perfectly. (I have no doubt that Kate also had quite a lot of input in the timeless, classic design.) It reflected her elegant, more understated approach to fashion while still capturing the regal essence and grandeur of a royal wedding dress. I love that the dress featured long, lace sleeves and predict that this will now become a trend as more designers and brides opt for some sort of sleeve treatment. The skirt was beautifully embroidered and its fullness and train were ideal for the long, wide aisle of Westminster Abbey. All in all, Kate stayed true to herself and her half-up, half-down hairstyle, picture-perfect makeup, sparking tiara and diamond drop earrings (a gift from her parents) completed the regal ensemble to perfection. Well done, Kate! You were every bit the beautiful Princess Bride.

By this time tomorrow, Prince William will have wed his Princess Bride and all of the 24/7 news coverage will have died down…somewhat. In the meantime, news anchors and reporters regale us with the latest tidbits of information about the Royal Wedding. I have to admit that I’m quite impressed that Kate Middleton's dress and designer have stayed under wraps! Not even on WikiLeaks! We already know that Kate Middleton will be a traditional bride when warranted: She’ll wear a tiara and place a sprig of myrtle in her bouquet, as all royal brides have done since Queen Victoria. But we also know that she’s very much a modern bride and will set her own tone: She’s arriving in a Rolls Royce vs. a carriage and omitting the word “obey” from her vows. Along with many of you, I will set my alarm for the wee hours to tune in and take notes. And tomorrow I’ll weigh in on the dress, the details, the festive celebration and what trends we can expect to see in weddings to come. Enjoy the wedding!

— Diane Forden

Now here's something new and different! How about an elegant touch for all of  your wedding-related gatherings that doesn't break the bank? Easy Leaf Products offers edible gold and silver in a variety of price points for blingy food decoration. Choose a signature cocktail, like the Golden Vow (visit easyleafproducts.com for the recipe), which has flavors of vanilla and gold, and give it a gorgeous sparkle with edible gold. Or try Lady in the Black Dress (this would be good for the bachelorette party), which has black vodka, blackberry brandy and Argento Fino (edible silver) sprinkles. It's those little details that add the pizzazz...

easyleafproducts.com
 

— Susan Schneider

Royal Wedding news is reaching a fever pitch. And what better way to celebrate Kate and Will’s nuptials than with your own mini-celebration? Get together with friends, wear hats (a must at British weddings) and join in the revelry. Everyone loves a party!

To help get you started, Charlotte Voisey — an award-winning mixologist and brand ambassador (including Hendrick’s Gin, Lillet, Glenfiddich and Balvenie) from London — has created a few special cocktails in honor of the big day. They’re perfect for your “royal” party or for your own wedding celebration.

1. The Royal Rose
A toast to Kate, this cocktail was inspired by the national flower of England, the rose, and one of the ingredients, Hendrick’s Gin, is made with rose petal essence.

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons rose jam
• 1 oz. Hendrick’s gin
• ½ oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 oz. champagne

Directions:

• Combine ingredients in a mixing glass (except for the champagne).
• Shake well.
• Strain into a flute.
• Top with champagne.
• Garnish with a small rose petal.

2. Royal Balmoral Punch

Ingredients:

Let's say you've always dreamed of having live musicians at your wedding—a DJ or, God forbid, an iPod, just won't do. Live music is more romantic, right? The Budget Guru asked Anne Roos, the author of The Bride's Guide to Musicians, for her advice on the unromantic matter of fees. (Anne has been playing the Celtic harp at weddings for thirty or so years, and she lives in South Tahoe, CA.)

Anne says, "Most musicians may charge a first-hour rate and then a reduced rate for subsequent hours (for instance, $299 for the first hour and $200 for each hour thereafter)." Or, they may simply charge you a package fee for the number of hours that you need them. There could be other charges added to this performance fee, which may include:

Recently, the Budget Guru's good friend Sharon Naylor spoke with some other wedding experts about the big bad flower budget. Here, she shared her tips with us.

1. Go Green: "Use lots of greenery," says Michelle Rago, a wedding planner and Google’s wedding spokesperson. “Using unique, dramatic greenery creates an elegant look. I like to use big leaves such as palm and banana leaves to make a big impression on a lower budget.”

2. Use Just One Kind of Flower: Rago also suggests making a big impression on a budget with a grouping of one kind of flower, such as gladiolus.

3. Go Tall: Add dramatic height on a budget with branches like curly willow.

4. Use One Color: Georgianne Vinicombe, owner of Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Company in Princeton, New Jersey and Yardley, Pennsylvania says, “Centerpieces made with all one color of flower really pop on a budget, since the color stands out, especially when mixed with different textures for an elegant look.”

5. Mix Glass and Water: Glass vases filled with water and colorful or clear stones — in which an exotic flower floats — is as impressive as a $200 floral arrangement.

6. Get Glass Vases in Unique Shapes: At the craft store, you’ll find $5 to $8 rounds, ovals, and tall rectangular glass vases in which to hold your florals.

Unlike past episodes of Wedding Wars, where challenges were all about brawn and bravery—using giant Q-tips to knock each other over, and who could forget scarfing down dog food—last night was the battle of wits. First, the eight remaining couples had to recreate photos in a wedding album for this week’s gift challenge. Kevin and Angel had the fastest time, so they snapped up 12 Vivitar HD cameras and $3,000 towards their wedding photography. Next, this week’s security challenge required couples to persuade their fellow contestants why they deserve the $100,000 grand prize. After many heartbreaking stories, Mario and Melinda won almost unanimously. In the end, viewer faves Brandon H. and Stephanie were sent home.

Although the couple revealed that they were definitely angry after Kat and Hollywood were eliminated, Brandon told BG: “I don’t have any regrets…we played the game exactly the way we wanted to, going into it.” On the flip side, Stephanie admitted that she wears her emotions on her sleeve and “there were moments when I felt that I shouldn’t have said certain things.” However, both B&S can agree that the show improved their communication skills and brought them closer as an engaged couple.

Brides-to-be, you know the editors at BG are always looking for ways to help you scout the best bridal finds for the lowest prices. We think you're going to be really ecstatic about our latest discovery — ideeli.com and gilt.com, two of our fave shopping sites, are hosting their second bridal sales, since their first ones were such a success!

The Ready, Set, Wed! sale on ideeli.com starts tomorrow at 11 a.m. for first row members (who pay a fee to have exclusive access to select sales) and 12 p.m. for all other registered users. Be prepared to click items into your cart at lightning speed — items are up to 70% off, so the competition will probably be even fiercer than their first sale! Offerings run the gamut from big-ticket items (wedding gowns from Nicole Miller, bridesmaid dresses from Tahari, among others) to finishing touches (shoes from Badgley Mischka, photo books from mypublisher.com, even goodies off your registry). Experiencing a serious case of wanderlust? They've got honeymoons, too.